One Cheek Crafts

I heart Leslee Frumin!

2012-02-09T20:42:00.001-06:00

I was super lucky to get to take Leslee's class when she was at Studio Beads earlier this winter. I have been hammering away at her Crystal Elements and Crystal Lace and have made it through most of the patterns. She is so brilliant and an excellent teacher.

My big challenge is to develop a better sense of color. Artists like Leslee have lovely designs, but what is most striking is her use of color.

Carolyn's Necklace

2012-02-09T20:36:00.000-06:00

This was a really happy mistake. The pattern was supposed to be Leslie Frazier's spiral herringbone, but somehow I missed a stack, and where the 4 stacks are supposed to be nice and neat and lined up, I have three lined up and one recessed. And it looks super neat! Lucky Carolyn, the recipient of this one.

Awesome Cubic Right Angle Weave Necklace

2012-02-09T20:26:00.000-06:00

I gave this one away the first time I wore it - a friend complimented it and I took it off and handed it to her right there. Now it will always be "Rose's Necklace."

The focal bead I found at a Grayslake, IL craft fair before Christmas. This was the only glassworker there, and he had some really nice beads. "Pyroglasstic" Unique Glass Art by Jeff. He does not have a web site or I would share it here, he used great color. Keep your eye out for him...

Renee's Tila Bracelet

2012-02-09T20:22:00.000-06:00

I saw a version of this one Jessica's wrist (from Studio Beads) and again in a sample at Bodacious Beads... both mentioned this was a free online pattern. I found it here and it is easy and very fast! Try it! Next time I will use more contrast between the tilas and the surrounding size 11s... but for a first try, not bad!

Week of Beading - Installment 3

2012-01-08T13:03:00.000-06:00

Today is my last of vacation... it has been more than 3 weeks since I have worked, the longest break I have had outside of a maternity leave since, probably, 1992. I have more finished beaded work to show. This stuff will not likely be gifted so I am going to go ahead and put it out there.

The first one is from a pattern in Diane Fitzgerald's Zulu Beadwork book. I love this design but am terrified that it is not structurally sound since it relies on thread looped on thread rather than thread sewn through beads. So I am going to keep it and wear it and if it holds up, make more for friends, 'cause it is awesome.

The copper and dusky blue beads are both from Ding's in Winston-Salem, NC where I was for a week of my uber-vacation. I highly recommend Ding's for bead-weavers in or visiting NC. It carries the full line of Miyuki at good prices; excellent findings; friendly and enthusiastic owners; and, you can get your clothes altered while you shop!

This next bracelet I made up myself (not very hard, as it is just Peyote with fringe and a button from the Bead Show for a clasp, with a simple loop). Not thrilled about how the loop/button combo spaced out. Any advice?

The beads are twisted hexes, very irregular length but I would guess generally size 8. The button is pressed glass, bought at the Raven's stand at Bead Show 2011.

Finally, a Kumihimo braid I finally capped and finished after doing the actual braid on the flight to Colombia in October.

These are size 8 Picasso beads in one stripe, and a size 8 matte in the other, in a similar shade. This type of stripe is achieved by laying out your strands in a 2 Picasso - 2 matte - 2 Picasso - 2 matte configuration. Kumihimo is ideal for airplanes as there are no needles and no loose beads, no fuss no muss, and the flight attendants are always very intrigued. It is easy! Get a kit and get started!

Week of Beading - Installment 2

2012-01-04T20:27:00.000-06:00

For those who subscribe to Beadwork and Bead and Button, the components in this post may look very familiar!

Krissy's first pair of earrings to the left are from Teresa Meister's Floral Chandalier necklace in the November 2010 issue of Beadwork.

The necklace pendant below - now with my lovely niece Shayna - is the crown of Aasia Hamid's cocktail ring in the December 2011 issue of Bead and Button.

The final pink earrings are just one unit of Cubic Right Angle Weave with loops of seed beads to make them dangle!

My Week of Beading - First Installment

2011-12-22T21:03:00.000-06:00

I took this week off work to meet a challenge - 21 beaded gifts in 4 days. I wish I could say I made it, but I only got to 14. Thankfully, I do not see all of the folks who some of the gifts will be for until after the actual holiday, so I still have some time to do the remaining 7! I wish I could say I was burned out on beading, but alas, I am not. This is such a great craft - it is a bottomless pit of awesome. The first day was a tad frustrating, as I tried to make things up entirely in my head after a few beading-free weeks. That was a mistake. I find I need to bead by pattern first, then I when I am in a good groove, I can create something unique or create my own design without as much angst.

I can't show most of what I did until the gifts are given, but I have already given out teacher gifts (and they have been opened), so I can show those. Here are Betty, Suzanne, Mary and Carrie's gifts, all based on Glorianne Ljubich's Star Power earrings in the June 2011 issue of Bead and Button. I post them in progression so you can see where I started, on my own, then very close to the pattern, and where I finished, making my own changes and embellishments. Fun!

First, Betty's. These were from day one experimentation, and the were the only product that I was happy with that day.

Next, Mary's. These are the closest to the pattern, but I did not like the length of the 3-unit version in the magazine, so I just made a little link on top and that was it.

Third, Suzanne's. I made a 5 unit circle to start rather than a 6 unit circle, and the result is more star-like and less flower-like.

Finally, Carrie's. I love these - also very close to pattern but with picot's instead of rounded outlines.

This project is a great "stash buster" for 4mm fire polished crystals and those peanut beads you do not know what to do with!

These were all made with love for the Toddler Full Day staff at Chiaravalle Montessori. They are loving, professional, fun and they make magic with toddlers. Hat's off!

ASK BEFORE YOU BUY: GOLD

2011-12-06T11:20:00.001-06:00

Dear Fellow Beaders/Crafters/Jewelry Makers:

Most of us occasionally buy and work with gold, even small amounts. I am proud to work at Human Rights Watch (my day job) and one of my colleagues, Juliane Kippenberg, has recently completed a large research project on child labor in artisanal gold mines in Mali.

This complements the work HRW has done on the more corporate side of gold mining in Congo.

Please take some time to watch this report on Brian Williams' program about artisanal gold mining.

If you are interested and want to learn more about mining in Mali, please read more here.

The bottom line: what can we do?

WE CAN ASK BEFORE WE BUY!

This is the best way to get word down the supply chain that consumers care. Think of it like you would Fair Trade Coffee or Fair Trade Chocolate.

As you hear on Brian Williams' program, the United Kingdom has a new standard that allows consumers to know if they are buying gold that was not mined using exploitative and dangerous practices.

How will you use this information going forward? Are there other fora where you can share this with fellow crafters? Let's all play a positive role in protecting children around the world.

Thanks!

Experimenting with Rachel Nelson Smith "Bumps"

2011-11-27T22:41:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving weekend, and I finished this funny little experiment with Rachel Nelson Smith's "bumps" - little Peyote hills atop Right Angle Weave units. This is from the Bead Riffs book by Lark.

The rope is an odd count Peyote rope, 5 beads round. Very dark blue, and lots of misshapen beads so it is not terribly regular.

The beaded bead is 5 units wide and 8 around. That is a lot of bumps, and the last few were super hard to get in there!

Can't decide if I like this or is it too odd?

Of course, the author's bumps are a lot more regular, but I am starting to think this is pleasantly wonky.

Voices for Justice Necklace

2011-11-19T21:28:00.000-06:00

Can you spot the result of 1:00 am stress-beading from two nights before my big work event?

Correct! An incredibly fussy bezeled rivoli crystal! The thread broke, I dunno, 1,000 times. Probably because it was the middle of the night and my reflexes were completely gone. But I was determined that it was exactly the necklace I wanted to wear that night.

This picture is from after the event, with the lovely Renee, my Voices for Justice partner in crime.

Tubular Netted Rope a la Jessica

2011-11-19T21:18:00.000-06:00

My friend Jessica (the co-owner and bright light of the magnificent Studio Beads) showed me a lovely tubular netted rope with size 13 beads, just a 3-bead net, that she was working on earlier this fall. I was so taken with it that I ignored my internal warnings about losing my vision early to those tiny beads over such a long rope, and I dove in. Finished today. The result:

My camera is not doing so well getting this, but it is about 17 inches and very shimmery, and nicely lacy and see through. I may end up hanging something from it to spice it up a bit, something I could remove and then wear the rope solo. There are two colors in my 3 bead net, I still can't keep track of net without color changes to mark the connector beads. Jessica's was a pure taupe, and it was sooooooo lovely. I am getting there, but not there yet.

Owly

2011-11-19T21:12:00.000-06:00

I've been working in the rope for my Bead Show owly forever. Just inching along. I think I started it in June!

Here is the Cubic Right Angle Weave rope, embellished with the accent colors from the bead:

Once I made the rope, the next challenge was to do a beaded bail that looked nice and was also removable so I could wear the rope without the owly for more grown up occasions. Here is the result:

The bottom of the bail is a circular peyote disc that is a little lumpy, and a little lopsided. It is attached via the owly bead hole to a herringbone loop that is large enough to slide on and off. I think it is very sturdy if not perfect in terms of symmetry, as this design (the peyote) allowed me to take multiple passes through the owly with every consecutive round of the disc.

I am really pleased with the way the colors worked out.

First Project with New Beads from the Show!

2011-07-06T19:07:00.000-05:00

The colors I loved best at bead show this year were the jonquil/mint green beads, paired with the cranberry/blue beads (all Toho I think), that I selected to go with the simple lampworked flower I got from one of the fabulous glassworkers at the show - from afar they look like raspberry and lime! DE-licious.I could not figure out how to hang the flower since the hole goes front to back rather than up and down.

I started thinking of a breezy net, something like a stem network. It was pretty neat, but it did not go with the focal bead in the end, when I tried to hang it on there.

I also made a think odd-count peyote rope to that has a nice twist to see if that would look good, but I missed the lime.

In the end Fiona suggested I kill two birds with one stone and make the bail into a lime-colored leafy thingy, that would solve both the need for green contrast and the need for an interesting bail. So here it is!

I was especially happy when I put the finished net right on top of the other - not bad for an accident!

For anyone who is interested in the mechanics, the bail is a loop with leaves stitched on like loose nets, and then the cup in the back is a 6-bead circular herringbone cup with increases every row and picots on the ends.

Favorite 2011 Bead Show Artists & Vendors

2011-06-15T21:07:00.002-05:00

For those of you (Anyone? Bueller?) who might want to create a virtual bead show with online shopping, here is a list of my favorite vendors from this year. Some of the web sites are a little rustic but I am sure if you close your eyes, turn around three times, and say "there is no place like Bead Show," you will get the idea.

I tried to record everything I really loved but I am sure I forgot more than one. Even though it was only last week, it is already a blur, and my receipts and cards are a mess. Anyone else who went to the show have faves I missed?

Glass Bead Artists:

Dvora Silberman - beautiful glass, very classy and artistic.

Avenue Beads - I got a number of really nice pieces here - based in Downer's Grove.

Julie Miller - lovely lovely lovely glass. Little itty bitty vases. Happy vases. I did not buy any this time but I WILL.

Patti Cahill - OK, this stuff is in a class of its own. Whimsical, beautiful, well made, exciting, inspiring. Sigh.

Beau Barrett - I wanted to buy some of this glass but did not get to at this show, really liked it though, especially the "inside out" beads.

Thornburg Bead Studio - great colors, sense of humor, fun fun fun. I got some of the squares and discs and am having fun wearing them already.

Marsha Hedrick - wonderful porcelain.

Beads Nest - the web site may be under construction, but the work at the show was wonderful.

Kyoto Studio - unbelievable lampworked flowers. To die for.

Erin Hook - another web site that is under construction. Must be busy making beads! There are some good photos here though, to give you a sense of the talent of this Michigan beader, part of the Michigan Beadworkers Guild (I think, correct me if I am wrong).

Raku:

MAKUStudio - I bought some from this shop last year, and looked longlingly this year.

Lisa Peters - ditto, above. I hear she was so popular that most of her new stuff sold out the first night of shopping at the show! Good thing her older stuff is still so AWESOME.

Multi-item stores / beads and materials:

Knot Just Beads - this is an anchor at bead show, with tons of selection, friendly faces and good prices on everything, including Kumihimo supplies.

Funky Hannah's - great selection of seed beads and good overall assortment. Plus, if you are in the Chicago area, this could be a great actual road trip!

BeadCats - best best best selection of the tiny tiny tiny ones. Size 15 charlottes, 16 charlottes, antiques.

Beyond Beadery - MASSIVE sead bead selection.

Raven's Journey - incredible selection, reliable provenance of quality Czeck glass. Plus, Lenka was really nice to us and loved our jewelry.

Victorian Purses by Sue - wonderful collection of Czech seed beads, purse knit and crochet patterns and supplies, as well as Kumihimo.

Multi-item stores / findings:

Silver Dash - Best. Jump Rings. EVER. Perfect cuts, perfect circles, right ratios of gauge to ring size for strength. If you could see me, I would be kissing my fingers.

McDuck Creations- McDuck has terrific not-necesssarily-for-beaders bails and findings, so you can wear your beads without having to fuss.

Grain of Sand - wonderful findings, vintage and otherwise.

Nina Designs - silver and gold, silver and gold... well made, timeless designs, a little pricey, but worth it.

Kits and Patterns:

Cynthia Rutledge - as always, Cynthia was there, friendly and encourating. I have a couple of kits in the works so I did not buy any, but her work is unparalleled, and her instructions are almost as good as taking a class.

Sabine Lippert - Sabine did not have a booth at this show, but she was in a class with me and I have since checked out her kits and patterns. Wowza.

Leslie Frazier - Leslie taught the class I took and sells marvelous kits. Ingenious, elegant designs. Very good instructions.

Detail on the finished Tolkien LOTR piece...

2011-06-12T20:02:00.004-05:00

Here is the finished "40th birthday challenge" piece. My friend Fiona and I made this challenge to one another last year, and since our birthdays are both in the coming 6 days, and since this week was Bead Show, we unveiled our work. It took about 6 months start to finish, with lots of other projects interceding. It also went through many re-designs, mostly which gave me excuses to buy more beads.

The challenge was to create a concept piece using all of our bead-weaving (tiny beads stitched together with needle and thread) skills, designed (with help from books and mags for elements) by ourselves, that would pay "homage" to an author or film director. I chose Tolkien, specifically LOTR.

We got loads of attention walking around Bead Show wearing our creations, which was super gratifying. People loved the spiderweb and the Great Eye. It did make shopping harder, as people kept stopping to chat and take our picture. A few vendors even guessed (with some hints) the inspiration for the piece, and many people asked us what class we took to make them! I was proud to say that this one, there is no class for this sort of tomfoolery, at least not yet.

From the East. you can see the Elanor flower really well, but I am afraid my leaf of Lothlorien got a little hidden in the end. The Evenstar hangs down from Samwise's favored flower.

From the West, you get a good look at Shelob and her web, and hanging down from that the Elassar, which was needed when Aragorn had to heal so many wounded after battle! You can also get a good look at the Eye of Sauron, which owes a great deal to Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork, but which has a free-netted black pupil holding in a black rivoli in a peyote bezel.

Detail of the leaf... my own design, mostly herringbone stitch with some embellishment.

Detail of Shelob, whose legs were a bit wonky. I did not want to use wire, but if I had, they would have stood a tad more, well, standy. He is made from two adjacent "plum blossoms" (30 bead spheres) with one fat red bead in her belly to make her look more angry and less cute. She has 8 red eyes and two little tusks made from size 15 crystal charlottes, so they are almost invisible here.

The One Ring. Just some embellished cubic right angle weave. I wanted something that looked old, and heavy, and with enough gaps that one could imagine a message there that only flame could tell...

The Elassar, also owes a lot to Diane. In Tolkien's description it is set in silver with an eagle behind it, but it was also described as being set in Aragorn's helm.

The base of the piece is a 4-unit lattice, which I learned from a Cynthia Rutledge pattern.

Making the eye.

While this might be the bit of the piece that to the naked eye is least easily associated with LOTR, this Elanor flower was based on a flower I have always had in my imagination from reading the books. I based it on Tolkien's own words describing it, and some fan art.

Well, on to next year's challenge!!! I learned a lot with this one, it is the first I have ever designed really thoughtfully from start to finished, all by myself. Also, I pushed myself to pick up new skills in the making.

Assembly took almost 8 hours, all this Thursday. (Assembly means stitching all the bits and pieces I've spent 6 months making onto the base.) It was a huge challenge to put it all together with some balance and not be as literal as I had originally intended (moving, map-wise, from West to East with all the items being in their real locale. Can you say "geek"?

Raku bead from 2010 show, experiment a qualified success?

2011-04-18T22:23:00.001-05:00

I can't decide if this worked or not. Does raku bead get a little lost in the bezel?

Gifts for the ladies

2011-04-12T23:27:00.000-05:00

This is a terrible pic but I it is all I have of these sweet little gifties for sweeter ladies - the team who planned our DC advocacy trip this year. I am hoping to do more of these woven earrings, they work up fast and use very little in the way of beads.... and they fit neatly into plastic eggs.

Phew. Another stress-induced UFO completion.

2011-03-28T21:37:00.000-05:00

This one has been lurking around my craft area for, oh, a year or so. I started doing a bezel for the larger cabs, then found the matching smaller cab and did it up likewise. Then the pair sat on the tray, and sat, and sat....... I figured out how to do the cable after finishing my last Cynthia Rutledge kit which inspired the encircled stones, which match the cabs. I have no idea what this rock is, but it sure is purdy. I am thinking I need to take a brown sharpie and eliminate the visible white stiff interfacing onto which the tiny beads are stitched - I am a little annoyed that in the light of this picture, the white is visible.

I have to say, this one looks lovely on. Some of my work, well, doesn't. My husband says it is his favorite thing I have ever made!

Getting them started early

2011-03-27T19:18:00.000-05:00

Soren's first design! He picked the color, the length, had the idea of how to do the loop, and selected the number of beads in each loop and between each loop. A Huib-to-be? He does have the right middle name...

And here is Stella, with her very first fist full of beads. Oooooh, Stella.

First successful Kumiimo braid

2011-03-27T19:14:00.000-05:00

My first (unsuccessful) braid is so bad I cannot salvage it. This one came out nicely, with beads bought in bulk on one of my trips to NYC's beading district near our offices in Midtown. (HRWers, I sneak out between meetings. Every 15 minutes free is precious bead shopping time.)

Kumihimo instructions and supplies can be found here. The ropes are extremely strong and have a nice drape. Set up is a pain but it works up very quickly once you get rolling!

Cubic Right Angle Weave Stuff...

2011-03-27T19:09:00.000-05:00

I am totally and completely obsessed with this stitch. It keeps me up at night. I want to stitch it all the time.... is that healthy? Here is a basic rope with some lovely glass beads my sister-in-law got me in Mexico, and another rope with a window stitched right into the bottom. These work up much more quickly than regular RAW or herringbone! I also found out that this stitch has its roots in Southern Sudan, where one of my favorite HRW researchers is right now. The male beaded corsets apparently included many structural right angle connections.

Earrings to experiment

2011-03-27T19:02:00.000-05:00

I've learned two new techniques and used the results in earrings to avoid making new UFOs. This is a Chinese Plum Cluster (the pink ones) and some flat circular peyote (the blue green ones):

More UFO resolition...

2011-03-27T18:58:00.000-05:00

Here is something I have had in my backpack for almost 2 years. I have become a much better beader since I started it, so it has lots of mistakes on one side and gets smoother as it goes to the other!

Operation Eliminate UFOs - 2 down, 6ish to go*

2011-02-21T20:56:00.001-06:00

I am challenging myself to clear the beading deck before bead show 2011 in Milwaukee.

Here are two bracelets that the day off today allowed me to finish. It is really frightening how many UFOs (unfinished objects) I have cluttering up my space. I started beading 5 years ago and I have several UFOs that old!

This one is flat herringbone, 10 stacks wide, with a pretty button that Fiona got me at the 2009 bead show in Milwaukee.

This one is a"lattice weave" a la Cynthia Rutledge with a nice button from the 2010 bead show.

*UFOs designed for elimination are only in the category of beading. If I had to go after knitting and quilting UFOs, the task would be way too daunting, as I have at least one 15 year old knitting UFO and at least one a year since then waiting for me! This challenge, I am sad to say, probably will not include my minute UFOs, beaded beads and the like that spawn like, well, spawn when I am not looking...

Happy President's Day To Me! Finally cracked Cubic Right Angle Weave!

2011-02-20T20:52:00.000-06:00

I want to shout from the mountaintops: I can do cubic right angle weave! Like, really! But alas, there are something like 2 people on earth who might even look up to acknowledge the accomplishment. Sigh. Anywho, what tipped me over the C-RAW edge was an online video, on the Bead & Button Mag site.

Once I started, I could not stop. This may be first time I have finished a bead weaving project in the same week I started it!

The pendant is not RAW, it is just a peyote bezel around a pretty rivoli I picked up at one of my favorite bead shops, La Bead Oh! in Springfield, IL.

Below see the little caterpillar that represents my RAW chain's humble beginnings. It worked up very quickly and is quite flexible. The only downside I can see is that it eats a lot of thread, my 'spensive One-G, and you have to use the 'spensive stuff because a lot of thread does show in this.

How-to - Applique Circles

2011-01-07T20:01:00.001-06:00

Here is the tutorial I used to make the circle appliques for the 48 circles in the modern quilt for Shayna. I sorted through 3 different tutorials and this was by far the easiest for a newbie.

To make 48 circle-in-squares, I cut 96 squares of fabric and 96 circles (based on a coaster or a template of the right size of freezer paper.) That was the hardest part!

I followed the tutorial link above to a T and, given that I am NOT a perfectionist, came out with 48 pretty nice little circles inside squares. Sewing in a circle on the machine was helped by a tip from another site: stop with the needle down at every point on a clock or compass (whichever you prefer) to lift the foot and slightly turn your fabric. This makes for a smooth looking curve without bunches.

This was mostly just a matter of staying organized... and I really did not pay attention to which circles went on which squares, but let fate play a role!

Shayna's Quilt in its New Home

2011-01-07T16:40:00.001-06:00

I could burst with pride that this actually made it onto Shay's bed... that is a true sign of acceptance! I also did the lettering on the poster above the bed.... heh! Aunt Jobi strikes again!

Phew! Finished Shayna's Modern Quilt

2011-01-06T18:32:00.001-06:00

This is a 68 X 68 quilt for Miss Shayna's New Room, which features icy blue walls and Cranberry colored accents. She is 14, and a budding interior designer. And she has taste, which made this project a real challenge for me!

I chose this pattern while in NYC at the City Quilter, and it seemed modern enough for my sophisticated niece... and off I went, 48 squares, 48 circles, and 48 rectangles!

Mommy: please stop looking at that quilt! Look at ME!

I wrote the label on sparkly fabric.

The fabrics all came from Quilter's Heaven in Northbrook. The ladies there are outrageously helpful and put up with me over many visits. They helped choose the color scheme and forced me to consider more contrast than I was incluned to do, and I am so grateful. They also saved me lots of dough by cutting thirds instead of halves for me!

I lost the pattern halfway through so I cannot credit the creators of the design here. Blah. And tonight, I tried to find the circle applique tutorial I used so I could share it with you and it has disappeared. It was super awesome, so I may try to replicate it and post it so others can try. I only scorched my fingers, um, 48 times.

This was a joy to make and I home Shay is cuddled up in it right now.

I am thankful for owls

2010-11-28T21:12:00.000-06:00

Before I get rolling on all my holiday jewelry projects, I had to get this little guy out of my head and into the physical world.

Phew!

Needle felting is FUN and cathartic. I was having a panic attack while trying to order my son's Christmas pressies on LEGO.com (his fave is sold out EVERWHERE), and when I could take no more, I started Sir Owl here. Presto chango, I am no longer stressed.

Lotan's Playmat, and my first finished quilt!

2010-11-28T08:58:00.002-06:00

Finally finished, and right now hopefully being ravaged by Lotan!

The pattern is based on one in the book Play Quilts by Kristin Addison.

I tried to design my own quilt for Loti, but since I have never made an entire quilt before, I found it to be, well, bad. So, to the book shelf I went.

The little pockets hide owls and other surprises.

The animals were sewn in two pieces (head and body) then assembled. They are tied on with ribbons and fully detachable.

I did machine free motion quilting for the first time, which was super duper frustrating at first but ended up being addicting and fun.

I also did some hand applique on the owls and some hand embroidery. Hoot.

You can see the kid-ready texture that the machine quilting gave this mat. Yay, Kenmore home sewing machine! It can be done. It was hard to manage all the bulk of quilt with so little space, but I just did a little section at a time while trying different ways to secure the rest of the fabric. The best way at the end was to use these cool circular clamps to hold the rolled up quilt while I worked on a small section.

I am especially partial to the technique of using the features of the fabric to free quilt, like on the milky way!

The only hand embroidery is on the signature label (which I realized later was missing a date) and the Big L sun below.

My son was very disappointed that I did not "make this up" (that I used a pattern) but I assured him that I departed from the pattern often and there was a lot of Jobi in this gift to Lotan.
The sun is the only bit that is 100% Jobi, not at all based on the pattern.

I hope this mat provides as much fun for Loti as the ones Fiona made for my kids, which are true treasures.

Knotting madness

2010-11-19T19:05:00.000-06:00

I started knotting the other night and now I can't stop. I have even made two pretty horrible macrame pieces. Egads.

This site got me started with some great free tutorials. They are total dealers - "hey, try this for free!" and then WHAMMO, you are hooked.

These lovely lampworked beads came to me from a bead-swap with the fabulous Suzanne.

My Monday night's labor.

2010-09-06T19:39:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a very fancy pantsy necklace that I will never, ever wear. I hope someone out there wants it! It is brown agate, with hand stitched beaded bezels on the two flat stones, and an experimental chain that is inspired by Cynthia Rutledge's lattice weave that may or may not work. The beads are a great example of stash use - the top left were brought back from Mexico 3 years ago by my sister-in-law (there is a funny story about my brother trying to say beads in Spanish, which I believe translated to the horrified shop keeper as "small balls"), the middle top were from a sale at Caravan Beads 4 years ago,the next around the clock bead show, silvery ones at the bottom from a wholesale shop close to our NYC office (I cannot remember which one, there are way too many). The flat stones came 1) from the bead show and 2) from a mix package I got from Fire Mountain Gems. And why do I remember every single bead gift or purchase made over the past 5 years? Insanity. Plain and simple.

Atlantis charm

2010-09-04T21:15:00.000-05:00

The picture is kind of scruffy, but I swear the necklace isn't! The pendant is a hand beaded bezel around a vintage pressed glass button I found at the Bead Show in Milwaukee in June. I am slowly making my way through the stash from that 2-day bead fest, having pledged to myself I will work with at least 25% of what I bought before I get to next year's Show to blow the bank once again.

The rope is a plain kumihimo braid with some very pretty silky yarn from Close Knit in Evanston.

Tom thinks it either looks like a birthday cake or something from Atlantis. Can't lose either way.

The only things I made on vacation

2010-08-11T06:43:00.000-05:00

I was not my usual self on vacation in RI this year.... no late night crafting after all the wild things went to bed. I did fascinate my nephews by practicing my needle felting. These two dry needle-felted beads were my first experiments at three-dimensions with felt. I discovered last night a better way to do it so these lonely creatures will be the first and last of their kind.

What does one do with silly felted beads, you might ask? Please, offer suggestions, as I have no clue! I think I turned "on" comments so it should work now. These are about the size of a nickel or quarter each, and their Achilles heal is that I did not do the base properly so they are a tad too squishy for The Judges, whomever they are.

First bag I've designed (for Aunt Frannie)

2010-07-29T20:28:00.000-05:00

OK, if you define "design" as "cut out matching rectangles."

First felting project...

2010-07-29T20:27:00.000-05:00

...because what I REALLY need is another craft. This is needle felted, and the little off spots of read are probably my blood from poking myself. Is it wrong that I can't wait to do it again?

Prize for committee member...

2010-07-26T08:42:00.000-05:00

I am going to give this necklace to one of my 2010 Dinner Committee members today - all you have to do is bring in a new member!

Warped Chevron...

2010-07-20T08:12:00.000-05:00

So, while I dig this thing, I am sad it does not hang right. I think the thread/bead size/tension combo led to some warped shaping. Learning as I go - I am not using silamide anymore, and will add a heavier, drapier row to the bottom next time to pull the collar down and out so maybe it will drape right.

The base row is Chevron and the rest is netting... size 15 gunmetal and size 11 red delicas.

It took an extended edition FOTR viewing to finish Cynthia Rutledge's Antonia's Adornment kit...

2010-07-14T21:35:00.000-05:00

But I did it!!! Want to try? Well worth the money for the kit. Like having a master class with Ms. Rutledge herself. The beads in the kit were of good quality (she includes 2 needles and One G thread, too), and I finished with quite a surplus. The "lattice weave" technique is very very cool and will be fun to use in a variety of other projects. I've already started a basic lattice strap on my own. Her instructions are detailed and personal ("Let's add a picot while we are over here").

I was not sure about doing a kit as it felt like I was somehow being uneconomical, or cheating. But I really learned a lot doing this bracelet, and as a result I have an excellent bracelet, extra beads and the instructions to use again and again.

The biggest lesson I got was making the little beaded beads that constitute the two buttons at the end. Cynthia's method was one I have never encountered before and the result is totally darling. Yes, I said it, totally DARLING.

The next kit I want to do (for my own education, of course, is this one. Christmas anyone?)

Inspired by Fiona at the Bead Show

2010-06-22T21:46:00.001-05:00

This is my favorite thing I have made so far from the Bead Show loot I brought back. It uses a nice raku bead handmade by Lisa Peters, and some pretty new seed beads shaped like peanuts that I did up in right angle weave. I put on the clasp backwards which I think was my inner self telling me to keep this one!

Bead Show Booty

2010-06-22T21:42:00.001-05:00

These pendants were very simple to put together from handmade beads in discount bins at the Bead Show, paired with these bails (from the McDuck stand that have a ball on the end which screws off and allows you to switch beads out if you get bored of the ones you've got.

Started this little beaded pretty when I was preggers with Stell!

2010-06-22T21:38:00.000-05:00

Finally finished, now that Stella is 15 months old... inspired by the Bead Show, this flower has finally found a home as a bracelet!

Slightly less belated May block

2010-06-07T19:59:00.003-05:00

This one I like a lot better, it is a String Block and I worked from this string block tutorial which was very easy to follow, and helped me get rid of some scraps (see Stella's curtain in there?) and also use some of the pretty stuff I picked up at the Quilt Show.

Very belated April block...

2010-06-07T19:59:00.002-05:00

I am not in love with how this came out so I'll probably have another go at it when I get another 3-hour Stella nap to work with... supposed to be a wonky pinwheel but it is wonky in all the wrong places. I like the fabrics but it screams American flag at this point which is not where I wanted to go with my Owly project!

March Block of the Month

2010-04-10T19:47:00.001-05:00

Soren has asked for this quilt when it is done, which makes me so happy. The Target Star Wars Clone Wars comforter on his bed is super cool, but I think the polyester fabric is scratchy. And if nothing else (competently made, for example), at least it will be soft!

This is the "Liberated Basket" from Collaborative Quilting.

Jason's Upcycled Cashmere Sweaters - Part 1

2010-04-04T22:21:00.000-05:00

Stella is modeling the latest in cashmere sweat gear! Her headband was once the lovely v-neck of one of Jason's now obsolete sweaters, soon to be a baby blanket. Note the pile of cashmere fuzz to the left of her chair on the floor...

The blanket itself will be made of the felted sweaters in 5 inch squares (as seen next to Soren to the left, 74 squares or so, 2 X 3 feet, two sided). I pass the sewing baton on to one of Jason's other crafty friends now, but I'm happy I got to do the cutting!

I have to say it did pain me at first to maim all of those cashmiracles, but in the end I think this will be a much better life for those sweaters than them sitting in mothballs while he basks in Middle East heat.

Stella's Tab Topped Curtain!

2010-03-28T19:37:00.000-05:00

I really could not be more pleased with how this project came out - thanks to Fiona, disasters were averted and a bunch of quilting fabric and flannel became a nice new window covering for our little Stell. I used a nice web tutorial from here http://www.purlbee.com/lovely-lined-curtains/, but had to amend it a little with Fi's help. As with beading, I am learning that even when in a rush, it is better to rip out messed up work than try to hide it later. Sigh.

Here is the window, during the day. The yellow band glows a little in the sun and looks like a nightlight at dusk!

My dad painted a picture to the right of the window, as he does for all new Petersen kids. The cow loosely is based on a cool pop up book my mom found at the library.

February's Block - Liberated Shoo Fly

2010-03-07T11:10:00.000-06:00

Again, it seems a little premature to liberate myself from a discipline I have not yet acquired... but here is installment 2 in our Block of the Month exercize. I've decided to go "all in" and turn these into a real bed quilt at the end, an owly quilt!

I had a hard time with getting this block to end up at 12 and a 1/2 inches, so I had to add borders which look a little more liberated than I'd like, so I may re-do this if I get a chance. Here it is on my bulletin board next to its January neighbor Owly.

Pouches everywhere...

2010-02-15T19:45:00.000-06:00

I sewed the day away today, and have started mass producing these nifty little zip pouches. Who knows where they will end up, but I am so pleased with the online tutorial (http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.com/2009/05/lined-zippered-pouch-make-up-bag.html) that got me to the point where I can whip these professional looking little guys out in a heartbeat. Zipper, I am your master. Bow before me.

The fabric comes from the quilt shop in Grayslake:

http://www.quiltplayshop.com/

Not Shayna's Bag

2010-02-15T19:36:00.000-06:00

I made this bag for my drop-dead gorgeous 13 year old neice. Of course, I neglected to ask her mom whether she likes bags, or carries them. I was just all into this blue and brown motif that she carries on about, and being pleased with myself for finding good fabric, on I went. Well, now it is not Shanyna's bag, it could be yours!

The snap-cover is hand bead bezeled around labradorite, which changes colors in different lights. The seed beeds in the bezel are from my most recent trip to NY. The browner more mod fabric is from the Renegade Art Fair this past summer, and the paisley is from Fiona's stash.

2010-02-15T07:49:00.000-06:00

Soren wanted to go all out this Valentine's Day - fabric hearts tied with yarn around pieces of candy from his very own stash!

First Block of Block of the Month Quilt Class

2010-01-17T20:34:00.001-06:00

Fiona got me into a monthly quilting challenge called Block of the Month in Grayslake - we decided we may not be able to do all the classes, but would follow the book, which is all about "liberating" the quilting conventions. Not ever having quilted a stitch in my life, becoming liberated is somewhat moot, but fun nonetheless. I put this together but am afraid to attempt to "square it up" without expert assistance, so it is hanging on my cork board until I see Fiona again...

Pillows from North Carolina fabric

2010-01-17T20:30:00.000-06:00

This lovely fabric came from a shop in NC - the Petersen ladies went grocery shopping and somehow stumbled over a fabric store. How 'bout that. I covered our icky Pier One pillows with it, and while they are not terribly fluffy, they look a lot nicer!

Bits and pieces still without a home

2010-01-17T20:29:00.000-06:00

These little flowerettes need a home. I made them over the holidays and cannot for the life of me figure out what to do with them! The blue and orange one could be paired with some of the little odds and ends you see to the left of it. The bronze and gunmetal could be earrings (too garish?) or 4 necklaces (too cutsie?) - more than likely they will live on my dresser for a year or so until something strikes me.

Better stocking picture

2009-12-17T22:54:00.000-06:00

Here is a shot of the whole thing!

Stella's Christmas Stocking, stitched by a very nervous new stitcher!

2009-12-17T21:10:00.002-06:00

The letters are stem stitch, which is about as fancy as I get yet, with some little french knots, Everything else is blanket, strait or tack.

Finished bag!

2009-12-06T22:18:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Fiona, I am so over my fear of the sewing machine! I ripped out bad seems, instead of letting them fester. I fear not the machine. Yay!

2009-12-03T13:41:00.000-06:00

My friend Jessica Kaplan asked me to assemble a pair of earrings from some beads and findings she fell in love with - here is the result! I love to do this sort of thing, and would like to try doing commissions and design work for friends as well. Let me know if you want to be a guinnea pig...

Values, meet my Hobby. Hobby, meet my values.

2009-12-03T07:50:00.000-06:00

I am going to embark on a little experiment, to try to find the links in the supply chain for all of my crafting material, to make sure that I am not inadvertently supporting child labor, conflict minerals, or other grave human rights abuses. Want to help?

Lovely Ladies

2009-11-23T13:57:00.001-06:00

Sisters wearing my stuff

Latest sparklies

2009-11-23T13:43:00.000-06:00

Little things without a home

2009-11-23T13:37:00.001-06:00

Embroidered, em-bezzelled

2009-11-23T13:36:00.000-06:00

Woven

2009-11-23T13:34:00.000-06:00

Kid Stuff

2009-11-23T13:23:00.000-06:00

Early Stuff

2009-11-23T13:18:00.000-06:00

I was very prolific at first!

Work Space

2009-11-23T12:50:00.001-06:00

The baby came and evicted my beads from the old craft-room, so the dining room table has been repurposed!

Someday, my room will come:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/roundup/roundup-inspirational-craft-rooms-095807